Electric target practice game



N9. 21, 1939. w P FALKENERG 2,181,015

ELCTRIC TARGET PRACTICE GAME Filed Dec. '7, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 21, `1939. w. P. FALKENBERG ELECTRIC TARGET PRACTICE GAME Filed Dec. 7, 1956 4 Sheets-Shee(I 2 NOV. w, P VFALKENBERG 2.181,015

ELECTRIC TARGET -PRACTICE CAME Filed Dec. 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Why/@egg Patented Nov. 21, 1.939

*"UNiTED STATES PATENT-cruce William I. `li "alke nber g, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rayolite Rifle Range Company, Chicago, 111.',

\ a corporation of Olrlahoma Applicatie Pereleber- 7 193.6 Sede! N9- 114,658

- 6 claims, (ci. 27sitin My invention relates to improvement ,in electric target games or devices and has' for one purpose the provision of an improved target `device in which `the user lires .ashes of Alight from a gun at a target which hasbarssociated there'- ivith a photosenstive element. r

Another purpose is the provision zof a game in Which a moving target' is iired at. Another purpose is the provision of such a LQ game in Which the scoring'of ahit against the target causes the movement of an indicator ineinber. r

Another purpose is the provision ofisuch a game 'or device in which nonvisible light is enr,- ployed in connection with the circuit.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for setting the device in radinevs'slfor operation in response totheinsertionlof a coin in a coin-controlled mechanism for limiting the number of shots which can be taken.

Other purposes will appear from timetoitime in the course of the speciiication and claims.

I illustratevmy invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure ll is a perspective View of the device in e5 use; Figures 2 and 3 are wiring diagrams; Figure 4 isa section on an enlarged scaletaken on the line @i-l of Figure 1 Figure k5 is a section on theline t5-5 kof Fig.-

ure 4; i

Figure 6 is a` sec-tion Onlthe linelG-of `Figure 4; and

Figure f7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Figure fi. Like parts .are indicated vby likeV symbols throughout the speciiication and drawings. Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates any suitable cabinet having a baste 2, a iront panel 3, `apertured as at V4 and provided vwith' an enlarged upper opening asat 5 which maybe closed with glass vor the like if desired. vA removable upperpanel 6 may be employed, the upperv portion of Whichis provided with a pair. of double gat-es "l, .3, hinged thereto and `normally '45 in closed position. `9 indicates anysuitablevclock face, the lower portion of. which depends into the opening E5. Ill indicates ian intermediate horizontal partition within thev housing which serves as means forsupprting some'of `the structures hereindescribed.

Cooperating with the clock face 9 is the pointer orhand I il which is ymounted on ashaft il I. jV rnaledinany suitable bearings i2 onthe b cket I 3 mounted onthe horizontal.partitionV IIl.

ierring for example to FigureS, the pinion I Iais shewnesin mesh with a 'reels l5 hai/inea plurality of gear teeth I6 o ndts ylovver edgearndfa plurality of ratchet teeth lion itsupperxedge.

It is normally urged, as by the spring I8, to nieve'- 60, ment @wirdv .theleftV referriilate .theigariejn the spring 28.

,the position in vwhich vthey vare shown in Figure `3,

,andsuch li'noveifneni'; is limited by a'stop i9'. .Any suitable top' and bottom guides 20, y2`I may be employed, the stopl being lherein indicated as i forming partof 'the lower guide l211. 4The'upper In" order .to impart movement to the '-ratchet bar lejana thus tothe pinion l'laani the' 'einer fhandfll, 'I provide the kfollowing mechanism. electrllmagnetic coil 2 3 operates a 'solenoid bar pivoted 'as 'at'26 upon theplate or "bracket I3.

APivoted' to -its'opposite' end isa dog 2l ytoene, Iend vof 'which is secured' the springf28,` fthe iopposite end ofthe vspring being also'secured to `the plate ,y le: It win be understood ,thatwhen thereon g3 tac-t With the teeth I'I, itjbeingfdrawn down by i y Thus each energizatiron ofthe coil- 23 `causes almovement .ofthe bar 'I 5 one step to the rightreferring tothe position of the parts inFigure A3. This causes rotation Vofthepini'on Ila. andthus ofthe hand'rlil. ItWilllbe under'- `stood' l'lh'at the coil 23is energizedin response to the scoring of` a hf t against the photoelectric tar.- get `vwhich v villl laterbe described in detail. f

`Reset means ereelso employed ier permitting the ber l5 te `returnte initial position, vit nerinally beiiig:heldv against retrograde movement. I, illustrate for, example a pivoted d etenls which has associated therevvith'ran armature'29.` 'The Spring normally .holds thefldeenttn O'Deretie pesitien- .Any Suitable eleetremeeeetiefeel' or I coils .el are" empleyed which. when. energized, no the armature@ @ed ,febr remove the .detent 2 8 iromoperative'p'osition. The result 'isto permtthe .Springj I8 te 'move the' parler the of initial oriull Alirie vpositiol'i inWliih it is in Figure 3.

` I illustrate also in connectionvwith the cabi` 'eet lend the .hinged ,deers l eed' 8, e' brd'er ether rollers, T31 Amer lee 'employed .te reader its 'teilte Werd ,movement easier and eener/138 .ete .e pleyedie' guide ite Ievenient It .ie @Oene ed tothe 1doors I and-|8 as by the p ivotod 1in s 39 the doors, qpen irl front leffin'to'isernia ih'ejbr'd to emerge. "411i indicates an 'actuating link'ior the .Slide it @eine riveted eeet .4| eednerelally heldinthpseonliwmehiiiselerninrie'ere 55 whereby, yvhei'thevk slide 3'6 is Aforced forward' o reaches the end of its movement, in the dottedI line position of Figure 3, in response to a complete series of hits, an abutment member 44 engages the switch leaf 45 and moves it into closed position against the contact 46 which permits aflow of current from an outside source of electric power to energize the transformer 41, whereby the solenoid 43 is energized. Thus when the rod I5 is moved by an unbroken sequence of hits to the end of its position, it releases the bird 35, as a further indication of the sucess of the marksman. Any other suitable signal might be employed, visible or audible, for indicating a perfect score, but I find the emergence of the bird a satisfactory solution.

Referring to the target proper, at which the marksman shoots, I illustrate a pendulum arm 50, pivoted as at 5| upon any suitable bracket 52. Secured to the upper portionof the pendulum 59 is a block of insulating material 53 carrying two Y spring thrust contacts 54, 5,5 which abut against xed contact segments 56, 51 mounted upon an insulating block 53a. Any suitable lines 58, 59 extend along the pendulum 50 tothe photoelectric cell 60 which isshown` as enclosed in a housing 6| having a forward lens62 in an aperture conforming in size to the lens.

In order to impart oscillation to the pendulum,

, I provide any suitable motor 63 which, through any' suitable gearing device, operates a pinion 64 in mesh with the large gear 65 pivoted on any suitable bracket 66. 61 indicates a link connecting the gears 65 and the pendulum 50 whereby, in response to rotation of the motor, the pendulum is swungthrough a considerable arc in the open space 5. The pendulum is herein shown in sight 'all the time so that it could be red at any point in its movement, referring to the device as shown in Figure 1. It will be understood, however, that any suitable masking means might be employed whereby therpendulum could be lshot at only at some part or parts of its arc of `movement.

Referring to the general circuit and the general operation of the device I. illustrate, in Figure l, a firing stand; generally indicated as 10. ',Ihe stand may include any suitabler gun rack 1| and a coin slide 12into which'a coin may be inserted and which may then be employed to move the coin controlled switch 13.from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 in full line to the dotted line position. It is normally held in the full line position as by the spring 14 and it returns to that position as soon as the operator releases the coin slide 12. The firing `stand 'I0 is provided with a forward aperture 15 alined withwhich .is the light 'I6 which may direct a ray or beam of light at a photo cell 11 valined with the aperture 4 of the cabinet I. It may be enclosed inl any suitable housing 18 with a forward aperture and lens 19. 80 generally indicates any suitable gun which may include a trigger switch 8|, an opposed contact 82, a light source 83, anda trigger 84.

' Referring to the wiring diagram whereby these various parts are employed and tracing first the result of the insertion of a coin and the following actuation of the slide 12, the switch 13 is moved into the Vdotted line position of Figure 2. The circuit maybe tracedfrom one terminal of a suitable source of 110 volt alternating current by the line 85 to the contact 86, contact 81, line 88, to the voltage reducer 89, herein shown as a lamp, and thence by the line 90 to the reset magnet A. The circuit then extends by the line 9| to the junction 92, and the line 93 over the switch 94 to the opposite terminal 95 of the outside source of power. In other words, when the manual control-switchl 94 is closed, the result of the insertion of a coin and the closure of the switchl 13 is to energize the reset magnet A, which thereupon lifts the detent 96 and permits the spring 91 to move the ratchet 98 from the dotted line to the full line position in which it is shown in Figure 2. Any suitable stop may be provided for limiting the movement of the bar 98 in response to the spring 91. This ratchet bar 98, which is generally similar in itsrnovement to the bar I5 already described, controls the number of shots which can be taken in response to the insertion of a single coin. All the mechanism shown in Figure 2 is enclosed in the gun stand 10.

It will be understood that thereafter, at each shot or at each trigger pull, the solenoid coil 99 is energized causing the link or lever to move in a counterclockwise direction, thereby causing the dog IOI to engage the ratchet teeth |02 and to move the bar 98 to the right. The detent 96, which has been released by the swing back of the switch 'I3 in response to the spring 14, has already been dropped'into detent or holding posiltion and, after each forward step of the bar 98,

prevents retrograde movement of the bar. Finally, for example, at the tenth actuation of the solenoid 99, the rack bar 98 moves the switch member |03 from the full line position to the dotted line position of Figure 2 and breaks contact with the fixed contact member |04. The plunger of the solenoid 99 is provided also with an abutment which actuates a multiple switch |06 which is normally held in open position, as by the spring |01. When the solenoid plunger is actuated, in response to a trigger pull, it closes all three of the contacts of the switch |06. This switch |66 should be considered in connection with'the switch |03. When the coin controlled switch 13 is closed with a resultant movement of the bar 98 to the full line position of Figure 2, the switch |03 is closed in relation to the fixed contact |04, with the following results. Current flows along the line 85 to the junction |68 and thence to the primary coil of the transformer B, thence by the line |09, |I0, I|I to the contact |04, the switch |03 and back to the line 93 to the power line 95. A parallel or shunt connection ||2 illuminates the lamp 16. The secondary coil of the transformer B is in circuit with the rectier C.

When the trigger 84 is pulled it moves the switch 8| against the fixed contact 82 and, the spring 14 having already moved the switch 13 to the full line position, it closes a circuit which may be traced as follows: l

The line I4 extends from the positive terminal of the rectifier C, across one switch member ||5 and then by the line I I6 to the solenoid coil, 99, which actuates the shot counter lever |06, and then by the lines II1, |I8, |I9, across the gun switch members 8| and 82, and thence by line |20 through the switch 12 and by a line I2I, |22 to the negative terminal of the rectier C. Thus the result of closure of the trigger has beenI to actuate the shot counter and to move lthe bar 98 one step, thus using up one of the shots allowed to the operator.

Since the result of the operation of the solenoid i Y d' or radiation is emitted or -directed from the 2,181,015l 99 is to closev the triple switch |06, a holding ciri cuit is established through the line |23 from the line ||8 across the switch member |06a, to the line |22. Thus when the switch again opens, current is still permitted to flow through the solenoid coil 99 as long as the member |06a is closed, which is for an additional fraction of a second. A circuit is also closed through the line |24 which extends in parallel from |4 to I8 and includes the slow acting electro-magnet |25 which when energized, eventually breaks the double switch members and |5a.

Actuation of the switch |06 also causes a flow of current from the main line 85, thence from the junction |26 and the line |21 to the primary coil of the transformer D, thence by the line |28 across the switch member ||5a., and by the line |29, the switch member |060, by |30, |3|, thence to ||0, Ill, |04, |03 and back to the line 93 to the terminal95. This energizes the transformer D, the secondary coil of which is connected by the lines |32, |33 to the light 83. This causes the light to ash on and permits the gun to direct a iiash of light in response to the trigger pull, the path of the light ash being indicated as at |34. After the light 83 is flashed on, slow acting magnet acts and breaks the switch members ||5 and ||5a, which has for effect to de-energize the solenoid 99 and to break the connection for the gun lamp transformer D. The action of the magnet |25 is so timed as to permit a flash of light of merely a fraction of a second.

An additional resultof the trigger pull is the actuation of the thud sounder E through the following circuit. It may be traced. from the line 85 by the line |35, |36, |29, across the switch |060, back by to I3I, H0, |04, |03, thence across to 93 at the intersection point 93a.

Thus, at each trigger pull, the shot counterk bar 98 is advanced one step, the light 83 is iiashed on and then 01T, and the thud sounder E is actuated.

Note that the switch member |0617` is actuated at each trigger pull, but performs no function until the last shot is fired. The result of the ring of the last shot is to open the switch |03. At that time the power from the rectifier C, the switch |03 being opened, is shunted from the line |09, |3|, and thence along the line |40 across the switch member |0617 and back along the line |4| to the junction 9.2 with the line 93. In addition, the circuit of the light 16 is shunted across the switch |0611.

G indicates a service switch shunted across from 85 to 88 as by the line |42. It is not used in the normal employment of the device.

Iwill consider now the portion of the wiring diagram, shown in Figure 3, which relates to the cabinet The light source 16 in the gun stand, shown in Figure 2, may be considered to direct a beam of light toward the photocell 11. It will be understood that visual light may vbe employed for this purpose, light within the range to which the human eye is sensitive, or ultra-violet light, or infra-red light, or any suitable band of radiation. A radio beam may be employed. In any event, the member 11 will be understood to be responsive to whatever light source 16 so that, when the source 16 is energized in response to the operation of the coin controlled switch 13, the sensitive member 11 is effective to energize or to start the operation of the mechanism within the cabinet without the necessity of any conductive connection between the gun and gun stand and the cabinet and the target mechanism housed therein.

Referring in detail to Figure 3, H indicates a photo-electric amplifier which receives its power from an outside source of any suitable nature, for example 110 volt alternating current. The circuit may be indicated as including the lines |5| and |52, including the manually controlled cut-olf switch |53. Assuming that the photoelectric amplier H is ready for operation, with the switch |53 closed, the impingement of the beam |50 against the sensitive member 11 causes a flow of current through the lines |54 and |55 and the electro-magnet |56 which closes the switch |51 normally held open as by the spring |58. r

In other words, the result of the insertion of a coin in the cabinet 10 and the closure of the switch member 13 is to close the switch |51 with the following results. A circuit is closed from the main line |5| by the line |59 through the motor 63, thence by the line to the contact point 6| across the switch |51 and back by the line |62 to the main line |52. Thus the motor is put into operation and the pendulum structure earlier described, including the pendulum member 50 and the photo cell 60, begins to swing through its predetermined arc.

A circuit is also closed froml the line 5| to the primary coil of the transformer J and thence along the line |63 to the contact |6| and back by the line 62 to the main line |52. This provides current, from the secondary coil of the transformer J, for the reset magnet 3| by a circuit which includes the line |64, switch |65, contact |66 and line |61, The resultfof such energization is to move the detent 28 into released position and to permit the reset bar |5 to move in response to the spring |8, from the dotted line to the full line position of Figure 3, which moves the indicator arm I0 to initial position,

In order to release the detent 28, so that it will be in position for score counter service, I provide the slow-acting magnet |68 connected in parallel as by the lines |69 and |10 with the secondary coil of the transformer J. Thus the switch is automatically broken after a predetermined interval, permitting the ldetent 28 to drop back into position. The magnet |68 may be set to release after a time suflicient to allow the bar I5 to return to its initial position.

Assume that the device is now in play and that the operator aims the rifle 80 properly and makes a hit against the photo cell 60. The result is to close a circuit through the lines 58 and 59, the moving contacts 54 and 55, lthe fixed arcuate contacts 56 and 51, and the lines |1| and |1|a with the photoelectric amplifier K. Ihe amplifier receives its energy from the main lines |5|, |52 as by the lines |12 and |13. |14 indicates an electric relay adapted to control the switch |15 in response to energy from the photoelectric amplifier flowing through the lines |16, |11.

`The result of a hit, and energization of the cell 60, is thus the closure of the switch |15. The result of such a closure or hit is a flow of current from the line |5| along |18 to the solenoid coil 23 and back along |19 across the switch |15 to the line |80 back across the switch 51 and the line |62 to the opposite main line |52. The result of this ow of energy is to move the solenoid member 24 in such fashion as to move the bar l5 one step to the right, through its engagement by the dog 2l. Thus the indicator nger il] is moved one step. Each time that a hit is recorded the bar I5 is moved an additional step and if a completely successful score is shot, the bar is moved far enough to cause the contacts 44 to close the switch 45 against the fixed contact 46. This permits a ilow of energy along the line |18, |8| to the primary coil of the transformer 4l and thence by the line |8|a to the contact 46, switch 45 and back by |82 to the opposite main line |52. The energization of the primary of the transformer 41 causes a flow of current along the line |83 through the solenoid 43 and back by |84 to the secondary coil.

The energization of the solenoid 43 through the mechanism earlier described moves the bird into the open, through the opened doors and 8. At the last shot, the mechanism earlier described cuts oil" further operation of the device as the beam |50 is interrupted. However, the bird stays in indicating position until another coin is inserted and the above described sequence begins again.

M is a service switch shunted across the lines |63 and |52 to manually energize the motor 63 and the transformer J associated with the reset electro-magnet 3|. It is not used in the normal employment of the device.

It will be realized whereas I herein show and describe a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of the parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention, and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a large sense diagrammatic or illustrative.

It will be understood for example that whereas I have described and shown a photoelectric cell mounted on the pendulum and a member 1l, sensitive to radiation, mounted on the target base, I wish my description and claims to be interpreted with sufcient breadth to include the employment of reflecting means for directing radiation from the light source or source of radiation. For example, in the place of mounting a photo cell 60 upon the pendulum, I might employ any suitable reflecting means on the pendulum whereby light from the gun lamp 83 is directly or indirectly reflected upon a photo cell which need not move with the pendulum. Similarly, any suitable reflecting means may be employed for directing reflected light or radiant energy from the source 15 to the sensitive member Tl.

I claim:

l. In an electric target range, a target base, a target mounted thereon, said target including a movable portion and means for moving it, a firing stand, a coin controlled switch in said firing stand, a source of radiant energy associated with said stand, means for energizing said source of radiant energy in response to the actuation of said coin controlled switch, a member, associated with said target base, adapted to respond to the emission of radiant energy from said source, and an actuating connection between said responsive member and said target mechanism effective to set said movable portion in operation.

2. In an electric target range, a target base, a target mounted thereon, including photosensitive means, a ring stand, a coin controlled switch in said ring stand, a source of radiant energy associated with said firing stand, means for energizing said source of radiant energy in response to the actuation of said coin controlled switch, a member associated With said target base adapted to respond to the emission of radiant energy from said source, a target circuit associat-ed with said base, including a switch, means for closing said switch in response to excitement of said member, and aimable means for directing flashes of light at said target.

3. In an electric target range, a target base and a photosensitive target thereon, a gun stand base, and an actuating connection between the target base and the gun stand base, including a source of light on the gun stand base and a light sensitive element other than the target element on the target base, a coin operated switch onl the gun stand base, and means for illuminating said light source in response to actuation of said coin operated switch, and target moving means responsive to the actuation of said last mentioned light sensitive element.

4. In a target adapted for use with guns shooting a flash of light, a base, a pendulum mounted on said base and means for actuating it, a photosensitive member mounted on and swinging with said pendulum, a face in the form of a clock face and having a plurality of symbols arranged thereabout to indicate hits, a hand normally fixed but movable about said clock face, vand means for moving said hand one step in response to each impingement of a flash of light upon said photosensitive member.

5. In a target adapted for use with guns shooting a flash of light, a base, a pendulum mounted on said base and means for actuating it, ya photosensitive member mounted on and swinging with said pendulum, a face in the form of a clock face and having a plurality of symbols arranged thereabout to indicate hits, a hand normally fixed but movable about said clock face, means for moving said hand one step in response to each impingement of a flash of light upon said photosensitive member, and an additional indicator member and means for actuatlng it when the hand is passed entirely around the clock face and across all of the symbols surrounding said face.

6. In an electric target range, a target base, a target mounted thereon, including photosensitive means, a target circuit on said target base, a conductive connection between said target circuit and a source of commercial electric current, a firing stand and a firing stand circuit, a coin control switch in said ring stand circuit, a separate conductive connection between said firing stand circuit and a source of commercial electric current, a source of radiant energy associated with said firing stand, a member associated with said target base adapted to respond to the emission of radiant energy from said source, switch means in said target circuit, means for closing said switch means in response to the excitement of said member, and aimable means for directing a flash of light at said target.

WILLIAM P. FALKENBERG. 

